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As he prepared a heated response he noticed Elizabeth shifting on the settee. “Mr. Darcy is a gentleman. I am a gentleman’s daughter. So far we are equal.” Elizabeth’s eyes blazed with anger. Irrelevantly, Darcy noticed how becomingly her eyes flashed when she was furious – as long as she was not angry with him.
“But who was your mother? Who are your uncles and aunts? It is not to be borne!” Lady Catherine exclaimed.
“If your nephew does not object to them, they can be nothing to you,” Elizabeth replied with some warmth.
Abandoning Elizabeth as a lost cause, Lady Catherine rounded on Darcy. “What of the obligations owed to our family? What of your engagement to Anne?”
“Neither Anne nor I wish to marry. You know that well enough.” He wondered how often he had said those words to his aunt. Apparently he must be married before she would believe him.
“It was the fondest wish of your mother.” She flung out this declaration as if it decided the argument.
“Be that as it may, I am my own man and neither you nor my mother may choose a wife for me.” Although Darcy was flushed with anger at his aunt’s manner, he was managing to maintain a measure of rationality in the conversation; however, he did not know how long he would be able to maintain his self-control. It had been a trying day.
Lady Catherine drew herself up to her full height and glowered at Elizabeth. “Tell me once for all, are you engaged to him?”
It was hard to avoid a giving an answer to such a direct question. “I am not,” Elizabeth finally admitted, giving Darcy an ironic smile. His aunt might experience relief at this answer, but only because she had failed to ask the correct question.
Lady Catherine glared at Darcy triumphantly. He could not bear to see her smug expression, nor could he allow her to leave believing she had cowed them into submission. “I would not have you labor under a misapprehension. Although we are not formally engaged, Elizabeth will be part of our family. You should accustom yourself to that notion.”
Lady Catherine gasped. “Her arts and allurements have made you forget what you owe to yourself and your family!” She gestured to Elizabeth dismissively. “Such fortune hunters can be quite sly in creating a moment of infatuation—”
A wave of fury enveloped Darcy and he launched himself off the settee. “Elizabeth is not a fortune hunter!” He yelled, momentarily stunning his aunt with the vehe
mence of this retort. He continued in a more conversational, but still forceful, tone of voice. “If she was merely seeking my fortune, she would have accepted my offer the first time I proposed. I am fortunate indeed that she has granted me another opportunity to change her mind.” He gazed at Elizabeth and saw gratitude in her eyes at this defense.
“She refused you?” His aunt’s tone was colored by disbelief.
“Yes, at Hunsford, in April.” Darcy felt some of his anger drain away as he saw a corner of Elizabeth’s mouth quirk up at the memory.
“At Hunsford?” Lady Catherine’s voice was going shrill as she turned to Elizabeth. “Is this your gratitude for my attentions to you last spring? She glared at Darcy. “You have conspired under my roof with this – this – chit!”
Darcy had had enough. Closing the gap between them, he towered over his aunt. “You have insulted me and Miss Bennet quite sufficiently, Madam. I must ask that you depart!”
Lady Catherine turned unexpectedly conciliatory. “Very well. However, this discussion is not finished, Fitzwilliam. Have someone show me to my room. It was a long and wearying trip.”
Elizabeth regarded Darcy with alarm. The idea of Aunt Catherine at Darcy House also caused him consternation. Fortunately, he had no hesitation in exerting his influence as master of the house.
“You are not staying here.” His tone was firm, though less angry
“What? Turned away from Darcy House?” Lady Catherine appeared truly shocked. “You are lost to all reason. That girl—”
“Elizabeth has behaved like a perfect lady,” Darcy said. “Your own actions have brought this upon your head. You cannot be trusted to be ladylike – or even civil – to her. I will not request that she depart, so you must be the one to stay elsewhere. I daresay my Uncle Fitzwilliam has some guest chambers available.”
“But, I always stay at Darcy House when I am in town.” Her voice had grown bewildered at this unforeseen turn of events.
“You will not be a guest under my roof until you can treat Elizabeth with civility.” Darcy said coldly as he rang for the footman. “Copley, show Lady Catherine out.”
Before Copley could move, Lady Catherine swept past him. “I can find my own way out!”
“And, Copley,” Darcy added once she was out of earshot, “Please tell the staff that Lady Catherine is not to be admitted unless I specifically authorize it.”
Copley’s eyes went wide at this order. “Very good, sir.” He followed Lady Catherine into the hall and closed the door.
Instantly Darcy’s arms went around Elizabeth. “I am so sorry, my love, that you must endure such abuse from my family.”
She leaned her head on his shoulder. “Well, you have endured a great deal of unpleasantness from my family as well.” She smiled impertinently at him. “If we always apologize for the misbehavior of our families, we will spend the rest of our lives in nothing but contrition. Perhaps, for the sake our sanity, we should forsake the apologies now.”
Darcy laughed outright, very pleased she could jest about it; however, he sensed her continued uneasiness and tightened his hold around her shoulders. The visit from Lady Catherine had cost her some measure of peace of mind. For that, he could not forgive his aunt.
